Apple Pie Filling

I wanted to share this recipe for making apple pie filling. I have made pie filling before and canned it and was not super pleased with the results. It seems my recipe was a little too runny and the pie didn’t set up well. This recipe is new to me but it is definitely a keeper. I got the recipe from the Mennonite Country Style Recipes and Kitchen-Secrets. This is one of my all time favorite cookbooks and if you ever have to opportunity to buy it, I highly recommend it. Anyway, here is the recipe!

9 1/2 cups water, 4 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups cornstarch, 1 tsp. salt, 2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. ground allspice. Combine in large saucepan. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add 3 tbsp. lemon juice. Slice apples directly into jar adding layers of syrup as you fill (otherwise there will be too many air pockets). Leave at least 1 in. headspace. If jars are filled too full, syrup will spew out during processing. Tighten lids and process in boiling water bath for 25 min. Yields approx. 7 qts.

Well, we better get busy. Enjoy your day and God bless.

September 26, 2013 6

Tweetsie Trip

Hello everyone! I am sorry that it has been a while since I made a post. Seems like we have been super busy here. Last Tuesday, the girls and I went to Sam’s Club. Wednesday, we went to the Pastor’s. They gave us 2 bushels of grapes and I have no idea how much corn-enough to make 31 qts in the freezer. So, I guess you know what we did Thursday. Friday we finished up the grapes and corn, cleaned the church and started revival. Saturday, we decided it was time to play. We met Dave, Jess and kids at Tweetsie for a fun day. We left about 9:00 A.M. and got back home about 9:00 P.M. It was a long day but SO much fun. Sunday finished up our revival. Today we are making peach and grape jelly.

They have these horses all around Tweetsie. The boys climbed up on them as soon as we got there. They really enjoyed seeing MawMaw climb on one. My mother was such a fun person. She loved doing things out of the box. She always wore a hat. One of her favorites was a bright silver one. As soon as I climbed up on the horse, Jess said all I needed was a silver hat. I think that is how I want my children and grandchildren to remember me. I want to be a person who is fun to be with.

Some of you mentioned that you were interested in knowing how to cook the dried beans. I’m sure there are lots of ways to cook them but the way we always do is just put them in a kettle, cover with water, add some bacon grease, salt and pepper. Mom always added a some navy beans to cook with them. It takes a while for them to cook and you will have to add water as needed. In my opinion, these are best with corn bread, but then most things are.

Well, I better get busy. I have so many blogs to get caught up on reading. Enjoy your day and God bless.

September 9, 2013 4

Monday

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a good day. We have been busy here-wait, don’t I always say that? Well, its true but sometimes I think you all probably get tired of hearing it. Today we gathered the last of the early corn. It had gotten too hard to just eat so I cut it off the cob and put it into a crock to pickle. I love pickled corn! Also, we worked up a bushel of apples. We got them as cull apples and they were only $6.00. Not too bad and they really were pretty. Just a few spots and bruises, not many at all. We got 9 qts of applesauce and 4 half gal. of apple juice from them. On top of all of that, I have been dealing with some type of head cold or allergies or something. All I know is that I feel yucky , my nose is congested and my throat is sore. I do not, repeat-DO NOT- like being sick. I would not have been able to accomplish any of this today, if not for the help of my girls. They are such helpers. Thanks girls!

Well, the last canner is done. Time to start cooking supper. Enjoy your day and God bless.

UPDATE: My wonderful Hubby is bringing home subway for supper!! If I felt like it, I would do a happy dance.

August 12, 2013 4

Christmas Pickles

I have made these pickles for about 30 years. They are definitely a favorite at our house. These are made from the large overgrown cucumbers. We intentionally let these get large for the purposes of making these pickles. The fat, yellow ones are the best but the large green ones will work as well.

7 lb cucumbers (after cutting), 1 cup lime, 1 cup vinegar, 1 sm. bottle red food coloring, 1 tbsp. alum, 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups water, 8 cinnamon sticks, 10 cups sugar, 2 packages cinnamon red hot candy or 8-10 drops cinnamon extract.

Peel cucumbers. Cut in half long ways. Using a spoon remove seeds. Slice into thick slices. Soak in one cup lime and enough water to cover cucumbers for 24 hours. Remove from lime water and wash well. Soak in ice water 3 hrs or overnight in the fridge. Drain. Mix one cup vinegar, food coloring and alum in enough water to cover cucumbers. Simmer 2 hrs. Drain. Put back into ice water. In another kettle bring to boil 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups water, sugar, cinnamon sticks and cinnamon red hots. After boiling, pour over drained cucumbers. Let stand 24 hrs. Drain reserving juice. Pack cucumbers into jars. Bring juice to boil. Pour hot juice over cucumbers. Process in a water bath canner 5 min. for pts, 10 min. for qts. Makes approx. 14 pts.

These taste like spiced apple rings. Very delicious!

July 31, 2013 5

Thursday

Wow, look at me! Two posts in one week! Maybe I am getting back on track. I am learning how to use Hubby’s computer. Now to relearn how to put pictures on using his computer. Well, maybe next post will have a picture!!

Tuesday, the girls and I canned a bushel of green beans. We had 24 qts. Yesterday, we had friends over for supper. We had beef roast, green beans fresh from the garden, and a stir fry of garden veggies. It was a good evening. We enjoyed good food and good fellowship. Today, we are eating lunch with the Horn’s. We are looking forward to some time with them. From there, we are going to help Mrs. Retia with some of her beans.

Last Saturday was our church’s annual horseshoe picnic. We usually have it at a little picnic area down at the river but we have had so much rain that the road was washed out and we couldn’t get there. So we had it at the same place we have our Sportsman Banquet-the Coon Hunters Club. What can I say-we are a church full of hunters and shooters. Any way, we had a great time, good food and good music.

Well, I guess that’s about it. Enjoy your day and God bless.

July 25, 2013 7

Salsa

Given to me by Judy Yoder

7 qts tomatoes-chunked, 6 garlic cloves-chopped, 5 onions-chopped, 4 green peppers-chopped, 1/2 cup hot peppers-chopped (or to taste), 2 cups vinegar, 2 tbsp salt, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tsp oregano, 2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp cilantro.

Simmer until thick. Process 20 min. in water bath canner. Makes approx. 11 pints.

August 14, 2012 0

Eggs

Just look at all our little pullet eggs. Ain’t they cute? Notice the ameraucana one. We were so happy to see it in the nest. We have been busy here for the the last few days. Thursday afternoon we went over the our pastors house to pick peaches. I, of course, forgot my camera so no pictures of his beautiful trees. They are all full of fruit. Friday and today was spent working up the peaches we got. We ended up with 15 qts canned, 3 qts frozen, and 10 1/2 gals of peach juice. YEAH! Such a blessing.

We have been HOT here. Not as hot as some of you all but hot for us. Upper 90’s for the actual temperature. I’m not sure what it is with the humidity, feels like, at least, 110 degrees (to me).

Well, that’s about it for now. I hope you all have a great evening and God bless.

July 7, 2012 7

Having Fun

Good morning, ladies! We had a great visit yesterday with David, Jess, and the kids. It was a nice warm day and as you can see, most of it was spent outside. If you look on the ground you can see where Daniel’s boots are. I guess they got in the way of swinging.

Sam and Katie. Sam had so much fun sitting with Katie and taking pictures. Every time the we would take a picture, he would just bust out laughing. So of course, we took MANY pictures. I thought this one was the best.

David helped Hubby fix the brakes on the car yesterday. It was a full day’s job but we think they are finally fixed. Thank’s again Dave for helping. Jess and I worked inside on making her some applebutter. She ended up with 5 qts. We had spaghetti with homemade sauce, rolls and cinnamon rolls for dessert. Daniel told me spaghetti was his favorite. I made a new recipe for cinnamon rolls and I really liked this recipe. Much better than the one I had been using. I got the recipe here. http://homejoys.blogspot.com/2011/02/sweet-dough.html I also posted the recipe under sweet dough in my recipe file. I did divide the recipe in half and got 18 cinnamon rolls. I will definitely be making them again. We are planning on starting a remodel at Jessica’s on Monday. Her kitchen is getting a facelift. I hope to remember to take the camera and I’ll show pictures of the process.

I hope you all have a great day and God bless.

February 4, 2012 6

Finished with Deer

No picture-just wanted to let you all know we have finished working up the deer. We got 20 qts canned, 16 roasts in the freezer and 15 bags of tenderloin. YEAH! We are all tired and so I think tonights supper will be left over homemade chicken noodle soup. Enjoy your day and God bless.

November 12, 2011 7

Wednesday

Today, we have been busy with school. We did a batch of apples in the steam juicer. We got 1 gal and 1 qt. of juice. We then run the apples through the Roma sauce maker and got enough applesauce to make 3 qts of applebutter. YUM! I also made a batch of homemade laundry soap.

Colors here are at their peak this week. I hope to get more pictures to share. We have been having rain but it looks like it will clear up this evening. Hubby has been busy making a king size bed for Jess and Dave. I will show you all pictures when he gets it finished. I think it looks beautiful. Here he is working on one of the posts for the headboard. I think I actually managed to get this picture without him knowing it. He was deep in concentration.

Tonights supper will be baked pork chops with potatoes and carrots, pumpkin pie for dessert. I guess I better get busy, I think everyone is getting hungry. Enjoy your day and God bless.

October 12, 2011 5